"Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell vetoed a bill Friday that would have put into place new state legislative boundaries for the next decade, leading to a showdown next week with angry lawmakers who had already given the maps their stamp of approval.

A lengthy legislative battle could force the courts to intervene in Virginia’s redistricting process or delay the state’s primary, now scheduled for Aug. 23.

McDonnell (R) accused the divided General Assembly of sending him maps that may violate state and federal law and splits too many counties, cities and towns.

The bill had been part of a deal hatched between the majority parties in the divided General Assembly as a way that protects incumbents but, at least in the Democratic-led Senate, did not receive any bipartisan support.

“I am concerned that the Senate plan is the kind of partisan gerrymandering that Virginians have asked that we leave in the past,’’ McDonnell said in a statement. “Certainly, the Senate can create a plan that will be supported by a bipartisan majority of senators.”

The bill will be sent back to the General Assembly, which quickly decided to return to the state Capitol on Monday, to start reconsidering the maps. The legislature does not have enough votes to override the governor’s veto."